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Business Heats Up at Miami XBIZ Retreat

Ariana RodriguezJun 3, 2017 2:25 PM PDT

MIAMI — The Miami XBIZ Retreat came to a wrap today with a farewell breakfast to send off the sizable group of international adult retail buyers and vendors that participated in the latest, wildly successful edition of the biannual event.

Now in its fifth year, the Miami XBIZ Retreat, was held at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel, coinciding with the XBIZ Miami Interactive Summit. With a packed schedule of up to 14 one-on-one meetings during the day, XBIZ Retreat attendees also came together during meals each day as well as during special events that included some of XBIZ Miami’s sexiest parties.

The Miami XBIZ Retreat kicked off on Tuesday evening with a Marlins baseball game sponsored by Exquisite that included an open bar and all the ballpark food one could eat. After the game, attendees made their way to the Miami Vice White Party that was held in the spacious Mondrian Suite and remained packed all night long.

On Wednesday, after a long day of productive one-on-one meetings, XBIZ Retreat attendees let loose during karaoke with several industry figures taking the stage and surprising their colleagues with their singing and performance skills. Attendees belted out songs from all genres and got the rest of the group dancing and cheering, while Clandestine Devices’ Kim Faubel took a moment to dedicate one of her encore performances — “My Girl” by The Temptations — to XBIZ Associate Publisher Sara Ramirez.

A wide variety of pleasure products and videos were showcased within the Mondrian’s top-floor suites. Vendors set up their living room areas to display their latest products as well as retailer tools that would benefit adult stores.

Autoblow introduced a new display that includes a video screen promoting the benefits of the male masturbator. Autoblow’s inventor Brian Sloan said that the video display will attract customers while taking up little space in a retail store.

Satisfyer rolled out the second generation of the Satisfyer Pro 2, which features a bigger head plus new buttons for easier control. Jerome Bensimon, vice president of sales for Satisfyer, told XBIZ that all of the company’s products will soon have second generation features.

Noir Handmade is a stylish high-end brand of fetish fashion that is based in Poland. The company made its U.S. debut at the XBIZ Retreat. With pieces for women and men, the styles can be displayed on hangers or in the packaging, which also includes a “Love Note” — which is a thank you card to the customer that also features product care information.

“We do very well in Europe and I think it will be just as successful here in the U.S.,” Noir Handmade Int’l Sales Manager Marta Rzymek said. “We are now looking for distributors to partner up with. The first-comers will be the lucky ones because I know how well we sell in Europe.”

STEME360’s Shaye Saldana introduced buyers to Landco USA, which is a distribution company that is based in Canada and expanding into the U.S. Among the brands showcased was the Light 4 Me range of powerful and cost-effective vibes, as well the millenial-inspired Emojibator. “STEME aligns with brands that care about their products,” Saldana said, noting that the Emojibator has been successful in promoting sex empowerment within mainstream.

ElectraStim’s newly minted international salesperson Brad Taylor told XBIZ that his job is to make electro stimulation friendlier to consumers that are hesitant by educating retailers about how it works. “What makes ElectraStim the leaders in this category is that our products are made for play rather than devices connected to a TENS unit.”

Fun Factory showcased its new Battery+ collection that uses patented technology to offer the most powerful battery-operated motor. Customers can also upgrade with a Hybrid Kit, which comes with two rechargeable batteries and a Click N' Charge cable. The Battery+ line retails for under $100.

b-Vibe unveiled new non-vibrating butt plugs that are designed for long-term wear. Snug plugs come in four sizes and in the colors fuschia, purple, teal and black. They retail for $45-55. The box also includes a travel bag, b-Vibe’s Guide to Anal Sex and a second booklet that includes additional information about using butt plugs.

“We’re trying to continue to build an entire section of premium butt plugs so that there is no disparity between the price points of other anal toys,” b-Vibe’s Alicia Sinclair said. “b-Vibe is owning the anal category even more with all the education that we offer consumers. We’re reaching an even wider audience.”

Say It With a Condom introduced retailers to its new website where anyone can design and purchase their own condom packaging. “Within minutes you can create your own custom condom,” CEO Benjamin Sherman said. “We give people the option to start a conversation about their brand, organization or message.”

ElectricDistro showcased five new vibrator styles and 17 new C&B styles. “This is a great event to make connections and showcase our new items,” Sales Manager Zach Goode said. “It’s a manageable range and they’re all in stock.”

Epi24 showcased the newest addition to its range, the Womanizer 2Go, which designed to resemble a designer lipstick case or perfume bottle. “I believe the 2Go will be the bestselling toy throughout the next year,” epi24 CEO Frank Alde said.

Hot Octopuss showcased the new Queen Bee vulva vibrating wand, which is currently featured in the June issue of Cosmopolitan magazine as the Sex Toy of the Month. The wand, which is patented internationally, is an “innovative and fresh product,” said April Lampert, Hot Octopuss’ global head of sales. In addition to the Queen Bee, Hot Octopuss will be rolling out six new products by the end of the year.

Clandestine Devices showcased its Mimic massager along with retail displays in two sizes. “We’re doing super well for being the new kids on the block,” Faubel said. “We’ve gotten tremendous feedback and a great response from consumers.”

Faubel noted that the latest magazine advertisement for the Mimic features real comments from fans of the toy in the form of text messages.

Duke’s Hardcore Honeys, which also operates as a membership site for erotic cartoon and animated content, attended the Retreat to expand its brand into retail in the form of adult coloring books and realistic love dolls with cartoonish body shapes. “We’ve gotten a really good response at this show for the uniqueness of our products,” said Gregory Charles, who is the artist and illustrator behind the brand.